Crystal holder



Oct. 28, 1947. w. E. KuENsTLER l CRYSTAL. HOLDER Filed July 12, A1945 INVENOR.

Patented Oct. 28, 19d-7 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l CRYSTAL HOLDER Walter E. Kuenstler, Cliflside Park, N. J.

Application July 12, 1945, Serial No.,604,5150

8 Claims.

'I'his invention relates to crystals of the character employed in radio work, such as crystals of quartz, tourmaline, or other piezo-electric material, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved mounting and housing means of superior construction for crystals oi' this character. 4

It has been established that the frequency of a crystal can be lowered by subjecting the crystal t6 the influence of X-rays and possibly tothe action of other rays or forces. In so treating the crystal it has been found necessary in the past to dismantle the crystal assembly and remove the crystal from its holder or container to enable it to receive the influence of the X-rays. An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a crystal assembly, in-

cluding a housing or container, which will permit the crystal to be subjected to the action of X-rays or other influencing rays, while the crystal remains suitably mounted in the base or seating portion of its container, the container being so designed that it clears the central portion of the crystal mounted in it so that the passage of the X-rays directly to the crystal is greatly facilitated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a holder or mounting for a crystal wherein the crystal assembly, consisting of the crystal and electrodes and a pair of spring plates between which the crystal and electrodes. are sandwiched, can be handled as a unit and inserted into or removed from the holder as a unit, the holder being so shaped and formed as to permit the crystal assembly to be easily grasped bythe fingers and lifted out of the holder whenever required, l

Still another object of the invention is to provide a'crystal assembly and holder therefor in which the placement of the crystal assembly in the recess in the holder provided for its reception will serve to establish electrical contact be,- tween the electrodes and the contact pins which the holder is provided.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown,

Fig. 1 isl a vertical sectional view through a crystal container or casing constructed in accordance with the invention; y

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken at right angles to that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows the lower half or body portion of a container or housing, with the crystal asembly fitted into the same;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the crystal with l (Cl. T11-327) 2 assembly, including spring plates provided with a central aperture to permit treatment of the crystal by X-rays, the crystal assembly being fitted into the recess in the base portion of the container;

Fig. 5 is a view at right angles to that of Fig. 4:

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a plated crystal, with the plating on the opposite faces of the crystal omitted from the central portion of the crystal to facilitate the treatment of the crystal byX-rays; and

Fig.y 7 is a vertical sectional view through the lower half or body portion of Athe container or casing.

In the structure shown, i indicates generally the container or casingfin which the crystal and its associated elements are contained. This part of the structure is in the form of a two-part container preferably composed of insulating material such as glass, or of any of the other plastic insulations suitable for the purpose. tainer or casing I includes a lower half consisting of a bottom or base portion 2 in the form of a molded recessed block, and a top member or cover 3, these parts telescopically fitting tcgether to form an enclosure -for the crystal and its associated elements to be hereafter described. A metal outside casing, not shown, may be used over or about the insulating casing described, if desired. I

The bottom or base member 2 of the container is provided with a relatively deep recess or pocket 4 in which the crystal assembly consisting of the crystal, its electrodes, and a pair of spring plates, is contained. Said recess 4 is surrounded by an upstanding wall 5 having outside tapering surfaces. At the base of the outer surface of said wall is a horizontally-disposed shoulder 6. The

cover member 3 telescopically fits around the wall 5, and disposed between thelower end 1 of the cover member 3 and the shoulder 6 is a gasket or sealing material 8 which is compressed to insure a tight joint between the lower edge of the cover and the shoulder 6. It will be observed that the lower edge of the cover 3 is so shaped that when the sealing material 8 is compressed4 between it and the surface of the shoulder B, said sealing material will tend to be forced inwardly and confined in the joint between the `cover and shoulder instead of being' forced or squeezed out of the joint between the parts of the container. l

The crystal l0 contained in the container `lust described, is shown in Fig. 6, and the form there shown is of the so-called p1ated" type. That is to say, metallic electrode surfaces are provided on the opposite faces of the crystal by means of a Y thin metallic coating or plating I I applied to said faces, as distinguished from the standard separate metal plates between which a crystal is customarily sandwiched. Thus, when herein referring to electrodes I mean to be understood as meaning either the plated coatings applied to the faces of the crystal, or to separate metallic plates .between which the crystal is located, for in the present invention either types may be used with complete satisfaction.

To facilitate the treatment of the crystal by X-rays without requiring it to be removed from its holder, I find it desirable to omit the metallic coatings or platings from the central portion of the crystal, as indicated at I2, thereby enabling the comparatively weak application of X-rays to reach and treat the crystal in a minimum of time.

The crystal I and its electrodes II (either of the plated or separate-plate type) are sandwiched between a pair of spring plates I3 and Il, each of said plates establishing electrical contact, with one of the electrodes. Each plate is outwardly arched or bowed, as more clearly seen in Fig. 2, and each plate has leg-extensions I bent to form Contact points IS bearing against the electrodes, In placing the crystal assembly, consisting of the crystal and its electrodes, plated or otherwise, disposed adjacent to the faces of the crystal, and the spring plates, within the recess 4 in the container, the spring plates I3 and I4 are compressed slightly between the fingers and the entire assembly is slid into the recess, the lower edge of the crystal coming to rest against the raised portion 22 at the bottom of the recess 9. The tendency of the spring plates to bow will cause them to frictionally engage against the inner surfaces of the wall 5, thus holding the crystal assembly in place,

It will be noted that each of the spring platesv I3 and I4 is provided with a longer leg-extension, indicated at I5a, said extension constituting a resilient tongue which comes into contact with one of the contact pins Il embedded in the base member or bottom 3 of the container. Each pin I1 has an inner terminal or pointed end IB exposed in the recess 4 so that the act of inserting the crystal assembly into the recess l will cause the tongue I5a on one spring plate to Contact the inner end i8 of one of the i .d resilienty bear against the same, thus es'tzlb. 1ers. cal Contact therewith. Each of the sr g :lates is provided with a tongue I5a, and earn of said plates establishes contact with one of the pins I`I, thus electrically' connecting each electrode surface to a pin IT.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. l and 4, it will be noted that each of the spring plates I3 and I( is provided with a central aperture or hole I9, these holes registering with the uncoated surfaces I2 of the crystal. It will be further noted that the walls 5 of the container base 2 are cut away or recessed, as indicated at 2l. these recessed wall portions thereby clearing the aperture i! in the spring plates I3 and Il.

When the crystal assembly is mounted in the recess 4 of the container it will appear as inlg. The cut-away or recessed portion of the side walls I' exposes the aperture I9 in thespringplxtes, and these apertures I! expose the unplated arcas l2 of the crystal so that X-ray treatment of the crystal is greatly facilitated due to the exposure or the centralportionofitinthemmnerex- .plained The cover member 3 is provided in its interior with a pair of integral cross-ribs 2l, and when the cover member is placed in position on the base, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will compress the sealing material 8, and the ribs 2| will be brought into contact with the upper ends of the upper leg-extensions I5 and will exert downward pressure on them, this pressure serving t0 urge the two spring tongues I5a against their respective contact pins II.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3, the spring plates are not provided with the central aperture, although the side walls 5 of the bottom or base member 2 are shown as being recessed at 20, thus exposing the spring plates and a considerable portion of the crystal and electrodes located between the spring plates. In the bringing of a crystal to a final exact frequency, it is necessary for the worker to remove and insert a crystal in its holder a number of times, and with the arrangement shown, the fingers of the worker are easily inserted through the apertures 20 to grasp the spring plates I3 and I4 and the crystal disposed between them, the entire crystal assembly being thus readily lifted out of the recess 4 and replaced therein without the fingers of the worker being brought into contact with the faces of the crystal.

While I have shown several embodiments of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, as many variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. In herein referring t0 the c0at ed or plated surfaces of the crystal as electrodes I wish to be understood as meaning either such coated surfaces or any other metallic or conducting media. disposed against or connected to the opposite faces of the crystal. It is also to be understood that the container or casing herein disclosed may be made in various shapes and may be enclosed in an-outside metallic or other enclosure, or may be constructed in numerous other ways to meet different climatic and other requirements.

What I claim is:

l. In a crystal holder, a casing having a cupshaped base provided with a recess-for receiving and holding a crystal and associated parts. a cover member for said holder, said recess being defined by side walls above which portions of the crystal and its associated parts project when the cover member is removed, said side walls having recesses permitting access to the projecting parts of the crystal and associated parts :o enable the same to be readily engaged and lifted out of the recess in the casing.

2. In a crystal holder, a base portion, a. recess formed therein, a crystal and a pair of spring plates in said recess, the crystal being sandwiched between the plates, each plate having a central aperture exposing the central portion of the crystal, the recess being surrounded by walls partly concealing the crystal and spring plates. at least one ofsaid wallshavingareoestoexpose the central aperture in at least one of the spring plates.

3. In a crystal holder, a crystal having its opposite faces metal-coated, said metal coatings being omitted from the central portion of each face of the crystal, a base portion of insulating material having a reoe in which the metalooatcd crystal is seated, said base portion havmg walls surrounding the crystal, some V0i' said walls being recessed to thereby expose the uncoatedareasofthefacesofthecxystal 4. In a crystal assembly, a plated crystal sandwiched between a pair o1' spring plates. a casing having a base and a cover member, the base having a recess constituting a seat for the crystal and the spring plates, contact pins entering the recess and contacting with the spring plates, each plate having a central aperture, the vbase having walls extending around the crystal and spring plates, two or said walls being recessed to clear the apertures in the plates, the cover member telescopically fitting over the walls.

5. In a crystal assembly, a holder consisting of a base portion provided with a recess defined by upstanding walls, a plated crystal sandwiched between a pair of spring plates, said crystal and plates being removably iltted in said recess and projecting above the walls, said crystal and plates being removable therefrom as a unit, parts of the walls being recessed to permit finger engagement of the crystal and plates to thereby remove the same from the recess.

6. In a crystal assembly, a holder having a portion formed with a recess, a crystal, electrodes and a pair of spring plates between which the crystal and electrodes are sandwiched removably fitted into said recess, each of the spring plates having a central aperture, the recess being deined by surrounding walls, some of the walls being recessed to thereby clear the central aperture in the plates.

7. In a crystal assembly, a holder havingl a portion formed with a recess, contact pins in the holder having ends exposed in the recess, a

crystal and electrodes mounted in the recess, spring plates between which the crystal and electrodes are mounted, each of said spring plates having a tongue in contact with the end of one of the contact pins, the recess being defined by surrounding wall portions, some of the wall portions having recesses through which the ngers may be inserted to grasp the spring plates and the crystal between them when it is desired to lift the spring plates and crystal out of the re-.

cess.

8. In a crystal assembly, a crystal having both of its faces metal-coated, the coating being omitted from the central portion of each face to thereby expose the crystal and facilitate the treatment of the same by X-rays, a holder having a recess in which the crystal is mounted, parts oi. the holder around said recess being shaped to clear the central portion of the crystal.

WALTER E. KUENSTLER.

REFERENCES' CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

